By Michael Bennett
It is no accident that Alabama has become the Developer of Quarterbacks.
There was a lot of talent in the quarterback room from 2017-18, and they’re all in the NFL now:
Mac Jones (Patriots), Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins) and Jalen Hurts (Eagles) will all start Sunday, marking the first time ever the Crimson Tide have had three Week 1 starting quarterbacks.
“I think we more so take pride in what it took to get here,” Hurts said. “We put in a lot of work. Alabama is a different place. It’s a process. You have to trust and buy into that process, and we’ve all kind of made it out in our particular ways. We’re all blessed and fortunate to have opportunities to play the game we love at the highest level. We don’t take it for granted.”
Week 1 will pit two of them against one another as Tagovailoa faces off with his Alabama successor, Jones, when the Dolphinstake on the Patriotsin Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Hurts’ Eagleswill travel to Atlanta to play the Falcons.
Jones, who was the fifth QB selected in the 2021 NFL draft, was announced as the Patriots’ Week 1 starter on Tuesday after a strong preseason — a move that coincided with New England’s decision to release 2015 MVP Cam Newton.
In the last 39 seasons, no quarterback drafted out of Alabama has won more than seven starts in a single year. If Jones, Tagovailoa and Hurts have anything to say about it, this season could bring a nice change of pace.
